Cutter guide attachment for forming machines



April 17, 1951 L. J. SIEPE CUTTER GUIDE ATTACHMENT FR FORMING MACHINES Filed March 18, 1949 Patented Apr. 17, 1951 VUNI'IED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTTER GUIDE ATTACHIVIENT FOR` FORMING MACHINES Leonard). Siepe, Milwaukee, Wis.

AppleationlMarch 18, 1949, Serial No. 82,147

and longitudinal feed and a movable cutter.

A primary object of this `-`invention is to provide Ia cutter guide attachment for milling Vmachines or the like `which is simple `and compact in construction and "which is moreover highly lefficient and accurate lin operation.

In milling and other machines of the type embodying a cutter rotatable about `a vertical axis and adapted to perform lsuccessive cutting operations on a piece `of Work positioned therebelow upon movement of the work both longitudinally and 'transversely relative to the cutter, it has heretofore been common practice to provide a hydraulic or manual follower attached to the head of the cutter land having a guide-style adapted for coaction with the surface of a com- Y pletepattern for guiding the cutter in its opera- 'tion and depth of cut. Since it is usually necessary to make several transverse cuts of varying depths at different points along the work to obtain the desired pattern contour, it has heretofore been deemed necessary in such instances to use a complete `pattern for the guide; and these .patterns must be carefully and accurately formed and machined by time-consuming hand operations of trained mechanics at high cost.

Itis, therefore, a more specific object of my present invention to provide improved guide means forcoaction with the follower attachment .of .a forming machine which obviates the disadvantages attendant prior devices and which eliminates the .necessity of providing a Acomplete pattern for cutter guiding purposes.

Anotherspecic object of my invention is to provide an improved cutter guide attachment for vertical milling `machines wherein forming or ,easy manner, with the aid 'of standard tools.

An additional specific object of this invention is 'to 'provide an improved double-forming cutter guide attachment for forming machines which is exceedingly durable inconstruction and highly 2 eflicient and `accurate in operation, and which may be utilized in conjunction with either a hydraulic or Aa manual pattern follower of any standard make.

`A further object of the present invention is to provide an vimproved cutter guide attachment for machines such as vertical milling machines `'provided with a pattern follower, which comprises, a template adapted for coaction with `the guide-style ofthe follower to guide'the same-during transverse-movement of the cutter, a support for the template mounted on the 'transversely movable work-supporting table of the machine, a "guide-style vcarried 'by Vthe templatesupport, and a second template adapted for coaction with the last-mentioned guide-style to guide the same `during longitudinal movement of the cutter, `the second template 'being mounted on the longitudinally movable portion of 'the work-supporting table lof the machine.

Still another specific object of the `present invention is to provide an improved cutter guide attachment for forming machines wherein `simple and relatively inexpensive templates of a variety of different shapes and sizes may be interchangeably utilized to effect the desired resultant contour on the work.

These and other specific objects and advantages-of the improvement will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting `my present invention, and of the mode of constructing and of utilizing cutter guide attachments embodying Lthe improvements, may be had by referring 'to the drawing accompanying and forming -a `part of this specification, Wherein like reference characters designate -the Asame or similar parts in the various Views.

Fig. 1 is -a Aperspective view of a fragment of a `milling machine with one of -the improved `cutter guide attachments applied thereto; and

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged similar perspective `fragmentary view of the cutter guide portion of `the assemblage -with a Asomewhat different for-m of upper template.

While the invention has been shown as being advantageously applicable to a vertical milling machine having a particular type of hydraulic pattern Yfollower associated therewith and with templates of `specific cong'urations for forming a certain Adesired pattern cooperating with the follower, Vitis -not'my desire or intent to thereby -unnecessarilyrestrict the scope or utility of the improved features; and it is also contemplated that'specifc descriptive terms employed herein be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

Referring to the drawing, the improved guide attachment is illustrated in conjunction with a vertical milling machine of conventional known construction and comprising generally, a main frame or housing 6 having driving means such as an electric motor, not shown, housed within the upper portion 1 and having a fixed base 8 spaced from the motor housing 1; a vertically movable cylindrical carrier piston or slide 9 Vassociated with the driving motor and having a vertical spindle I0 rotatably journalled therein and depending therefrom and adapted to be driven by the motor in a known manner, the spindle I0 having a cutter or other machine tool II attached thereto;

and a work support or table I2 consisting of a i lower section or first support I3 mounted, as by;V

means of a dovetail connection I4, for reciprocation in one direction in ,ay horizontal plane-relative to the fixed base or bed 8 upon rotation of the crank I5, and an upper section or second sup'-` port I6 carried by the section I3 and reciprocable -in another direction in a horizontal plane relative to both the table section I3 and the base 8 upon rotation of the crank I1 in an obvious manner, the upper section I 6 being adapted to receive and support a fixture I8 adjustably secured thereto as by means of bolts I9 and having a clamping block 20 and a cap screw or bolt 2| associated therewith to clamp the work piece 22 within the xture below the cutter II.

As, in the case of the vmilling machine 5, the hydraulic pattern follower 25 is also of conventional vor standard design and comprises, in general, a laterally projecting bracket 26 mounted the template second dimension contour 43 having the upper edge thereof shaped to the desired longitudinal contour of the work 22 and extending longitudinally ,thereof for coaction with the by means of a suitable clamp 21 to the stationary .formovement therewith, the follower slide 3| being provided with a guide-style or contour following finger 32 depending from the lower end thereof and adapted to coact with a contour form carried by thersupport I2 to guide the cutter II in vits operation in an obvious manner, itA being customary past practice for this purpose topr'ovide an entire pattern form mounted upon the upper section I6 of the work support immediately below the guide-style 32 for coaction therewith.

The improved guide attachment yforming the subject matter of the present invention comprises, an upper elongated template or first dimension contour 3'5 detachably and adjustably secured by means of bolts 31 or the like between a pair of clamping member 36 mounted on a supporting member or block 38 carried for vertical movement with respect to the supporting section I3 by a pair of end posts 39 associated with the ends of the laterally extending arms of'a rigid bracket 4I mounted on the lower sec- Ytion I3 of the work support or table I2 in a convenient manner for movement with the section or support I3, the template 35 having the upper edge thereof shaped to the desired transverse contour of the work-22 and extending transversely of the work for coaction with the guide-style or :linger 3,2 of the follower 25 during horizontal movement of the section I3 of the work support toV trace one dimension; auxiliary guide means, such as a guide-style or second contour QDCW?? guide-style or second contour follower 42 of the template block 38 during horizontal movement of the section I6 of the work support.

In operation, the work piece`22 is clamped' to the fixture I8 in an obvious manner and the work-holding xture is then secured in position on the upper slide or section I6 of the table I2 below the cutter II by means of the bolts I9. A template 43 of the desired longitudinal contour may then be clamped to the block 46 which is likewise secured to the section I6 of the support .I2 a xed distance from the work 22 as determined by the distance between the cutter I and guide-style 32. Thereafter, the template 3.5 of the desired transverse contour may be clamped in position'on the block or supporting member 38 which, in turn, is mounted for verticalmovement `by means of the posts 39 which have their lower portions freely vertically movable in the ends of the respective arms 40 ofthe bracket 4I which is secured to the lower slide or section I3 of thesupport I2 thereby rendering the member 38 freely movable under gravity and/or pressure until stopped by the guide-style or follower 42',- the guide-style 32 of the follower. 25 being conf stantly in vertical alinement with the` template 35 to trace one dimension and the guide-style 42 of the block 38 being constantly in vertical alinement with the template 43 to trace a dimensionr transversely to the rst dimension and to transmit vertical movement to the template 35.

With the various parts thus positioned, 'the' section I6 of the work support is moved, by'

means of the crank I1, so that the cutter4 I coincides with one end edgeof the work piece 22 Vand the lower section I3 of the work support is moved, by means of the crank I5, so that4 the cutter also coincides with the inner sidee'dge of The hydraulic pattern follower 25 may then be actuated in a well-known manner to cause the cutter II and guide-style 32 to assume corresponding starting positions with the cutter being urged toward the work 22, the guidestyle 32 being urged toward the upper edgej of the template 35 and thev guide-style 42 being v urged toward the upper yedge of the template-43. As the cutter I| is rotated by the driving source in a known manner, the section I3 of the work' support is caused to move slowly,'either manually or automatically, with respect to the cutter II and the bed 8,V carrying the work along with it to affect a transverse cut; and after each transverse cut, the section I3 is moved back to -thestarting point and the workV is advanced Alongitudinally by moving the section I6 ofthe table I2 in an obvious manner a distance equal to the width of one cut. These cuttingsteps are, of course,1repeated until the complete pattern has been out; and Since the template 35 is movabie only transversely of the work along with the table section I3, the follower guide-style constantly remains in vertical alinement therewith and coacts with the contour-forming edge thereof throughout each cut. Likewise, since the template 43 is movable with the template 35, supporting block 38 and guide-style 42 in a direction transversely of the work along with the table section 13 and is movable with respect'to the template 35, block 38 and guide-style 4,2 only longitudinally of the work 22 along with the table section I6, the guide-style 42 constantly remains in vertical alineinent with the template 43 and coacts with the contour-forming edge thereof throughout each cut; and the cutter Il is thus effectively guided at all times to form the desired pattern in the work 22. l

From the foregoing detailed description, it is believed apparent that my present invention provides an improved cutter guide attachment for milling machines which is simple in construction and which is highly efficient and positive in actual operation. The improved attachment may be used in place of the usual complete pattern at considerable savings, and may be used with relatively inexpensive templates 35 and 43 of a variety of different contours which may be readily interchanged in a few simple operations with the aid of standard tools. Furthermore, the improved attachment results in extremely accurate work, and effects great savings, not only in time and expense, but also in relatively scarce materials which were heretofore believed-necessary in hand-forming the complete pattern in each case. The templates may be formed of any Vsuitable and readily available sheet material and may be adjustably secured to their respective supporting members in any suitable manner other than by means of the plates or bars 3B, 45; and the end posts 39 for supporting the block 38 for vertical movement may, .of course, likewise assume dilerent forms and may either be secured to the block 33 and rendered slidable in suitable bores formed in the arms 4U or they may be secured to the arms 4D and slidably coact with the block 38 through suitable bores or the like. As shown in Figs. l and 2, the work 22 may be clamped in diverse manners in different types of fixtures, and also various types of cutting tools may be used. Obviously, all parts of the attachment are accessible for quick and easy replacement or repair; and although the improved unit has been shown and described as applied to and utilized with a vertical milling machine and a hydraulic pattern follower of particular types, the improvement may obviously be advantageously used with other forms of vertical milling machines, and with other types of cutting or forming machin-es embodying a vertical and longitudinal feed and a movable cutter, and. with hydraulic or manual pattern followers with equal success. The improved attachment has proven highly successful, entirely practical and extremely accurate in actual cornmercial use under diverse conditions.

It should be understood that it is not desired or intended to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of operation herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

I claim:

l. In a forming machine; a work holder comprising, a first support mounted for reciprocation in one path, and a second support mounted for movement transversely to said rst support; a machine tool and means for controlling vertical movement of said machine tool comprising, a first dimension contour mounted for movement with one of said supports and for vertical movement with respect thereto, a first contour follower coacting with said first dimension contour to trace one dimension, a second dimension contour carried by the other support and movable with both of said supports and transversely movable with respect to said rst contour, a second contour follower coacting with said second dimension contour for tracing a dimension transverse to said rst dimension and transmitting vertical movement to said first contour whereby said rst contour follower is responsive to both of said contours, and means for controlling said machine tool by said first contour follower.

2. A forming machine as set forth in claim 1 characterized thereby in that the second contour follower is carried by and depends from the first dimension contour.

3. A forming machine as set forth in claim 1 characterized thereby in that the movement of the first and second supports is solely in a horizontal plane and the rst and second dimension contours are in the form of elongated plates.

4. A forming machine as set forth in claim 1 characterized thereby in that the rst and second dimension contours are detachably mounted on independent supporting members.

5. A forming machine as set forth in claim 1 characterized thereby in that the first dimension contour has an upper edge conforming to the desired transverse contour of the work and the second dimension contour has an upper edge conforming to the desired longitudinal contour of the work with which the respective followers are adapted to coact.

6. A forming machine as set forth in claim 1 characterized thereby in that the first dimension contour is carried for its vertical movement by a pair of upright members loosely associated with one of the supports.

LEONARD J. SIEPE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of Arecord in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

